Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-05
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The provided pie charts compare the three varied types of nutrients contained in meals which are not healthy if overeaten in the United States.
Overall, it can be observed that in dinner, sodium and fats are consumed more than in any other meals and sugar is overeaten in the snacks. All of these three nutrients are eaten less in the breakfast.
In the United States, people consume almost 43% of sodium, 37% saturated fat during the night meals. In the contrary, only 23% of added sugar being consumed during dinner. During lunch time, individuals have 29% and 26% of sodium and fat respectively, while only 19% have sugar intake in the afternoon meal.
In addition, people have almost 21% of sodium and 42% of extra sugar, which is almost double, in the evening. While sodium is consumed only 14% in their snacks. Saturated fats and extra sugar are consumed almost in same amount 16% each in the breakfast. While 14% of sodium in the morning being eaten by the people of United States.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a clear overview and selects key features from the charts. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, the student states that 42% of added sugar is consumed in the evening, whereas the chart indicates 42% for snacks. Furthermore, the description of the 'night meals' (dinner) is confusingly presented, and the comparison between categories lacks precision. While the main trends are identified, the misinterpretation of specific data points prevents a higher band score. To improve, ensure that data points are carefully cross-referenced with the labels on the charts before writing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'In the contrary', and 'While' are used to link ideas. However, the use of 'In the contrary' is incorrect (it should be 'On the contrary'), and some transitions feel mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the internal logic within the third and fourth paragraphs is hampered by the inaccurate data reporting, which makes the comparisons difficult to follow. Improved control over cohesive devices and more precise referencing would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for the description of trends and percentages. There is some attempt to use varied terminology, such as 'nutrient intake' and 'consumed'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'night meals' instead of 'dinner', and 'extra sugar' instead of 'added sugar'. The repetition of 'consumed' and 'eaten' limits the range. To reach a higher band, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', or 'proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'only 23% of added sugar being consumed' (missing auxiliary verb) and 'sodium is consumed only 14% in their snacks' (awkward word order). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher level of accuracy. Focusing on sentence construction and ensuring that verbs are correctly conjugated will help improve the overall grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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